Plan Automation Technology Blog

X-ray Boosts Brand Competitiveness for Iglo Foods Group

Posted by Mat Bedard on Thu, Aug 14, 2014 @ 10:08 AM

Eagle X Ray InspectionIglo Foods Group Ltd., one of the leading frozen food production companies in Europe, oversees everything from fish and chicken processing to everyday vegetable packaging.

As a main processor for frozen food products in the western, central and eastern regions of Europe, Iglo’s demand for highly efficient production lines, as well as healthful, safety-compliant food goods, is what eventually led them to a partnership with Eagle PI.

Acquisition and Finding the Right Inspection System

Iglo’s first step in improving their inspection capabilities and compliance with safety standard organizations, such as the European Food Safety Authority and the Global Food Safety Initiative, was integrating various x-ray inspection systems from numerous suppliers, and measuring their performance within their facilities.

Using their production facility in Reken, Germany as a trial facility, Iglo began by replacing their outdated metal detection systems with various x-ray systems from multiple vendors. Key factors in Iglo’s choice of system included the inspection equipment’s reliability with detecting non-metallic contaminants (a weak-point of metal detection systems), and the equipment’s ability to perform in harsh environments and at extreme temperatures.

This factor was an absolute essential for Iglo, as it was required that their fish and vegetable products remain frozen during inspection application; the inspection environment at this stage in Iglo’s production process would be well below -10°C, which is a temperature at which not many x-ray inspection systems can properly function.

Beyond the sheer temperature requirements, it was imperative for Iglo to find an x-ray system capable to detecting contaminants within the high moisture content that most often comes with frozen goods (another area where conventional metal detection tools fall short). For Iglo, the most practical inspection choice was a system unaffected by moisture content, which could detect contaminants based on variations in product density.

After various tests, and equipment trials with systems from eight different x-ray inspection suppliers, Iglo chose to integrate Eagle Pack 430 systems in their manufacturing line, particularly for their high-speed, multiple-lane capabilities and ability to work under the strenuous conditions required of their frozen goods production lines.

Rewards Beyond Improved Inspection

With Eagle PI’s Eagle Pack 430 inspection systems installed, Iglo saw not only simplified and more reliable inspection, but also improved contaminant discrimination, as the new systems were able to detect and differentiate between glass, rocks, plastics and rubber fragments.

This additional capability was the result of Eagle’s Material Discrimination X-ray (MDX) technology (under patent), which can detect and identify contaminants based on their atomic number and chemical composition.

Since trial runs, Eagle’s X-ray inspection technology has been incorporated in four of the Reken facility’s production lines, with four individual systems inspecting a range of frozen food products. An additional reason Iglo sided with Eagle PI systems for their inspection needs, and another factor to look out for when finding the right inspection system for your own needs, is custom setting capabilities, which allow for the most effective inspection solutions in any given application, and with any products.

Eagle TraceServer software (unique to Eagle PI) helped Iglo gather all their inspection data under one committed system, by networking all x-ray systems in their facility through one main database. This streamlined how Iglo handled the trend-lines, product contaminant reports, histograms and everyday readings of their inspection equipment, and helped them ensure compliance with various safety standards, while also assuring top-quality products.

Beyond detection reliability, Eagle x-ray technology improved Iglo’s brand competitiveness, and drastically raised supply chain traceability. With Eagle’s on-site support, Iglo was able to find and install the ideal inspection systems at the most efficient points in their production process, with simple and hassle-free integration.

Arno Strotmann, Project Manager at the Reken facility, later said the following about Eagle, and their customer support when installing x-ray systems in Iglo’s facility:

“We were very impressed with Eagle’s on-site service. The team adjusted the equipment to meet our needs perfectly. The easy and quick changeover of inspection parameters between products increased efficiency, and allowed us to meet the highest food safety standards.”

Highly efficient and reliable x-ray inspection systems, capable of performing in even the most extreme production environments, were the ideal choice for the Iglo Foods Group, and proved their worth in short time by assuring top product quality and perfect compliance with European food safety standards.

For production applications, no matter the industry, products or product specifications, x-ray inspection technology has quickly become the preferred means of product quality control. To learn more about these powerful systems, or what benefits they could potential bring to your business, contact us today

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Topics: X-Ray Inspection, X Ray Inspection for Food, X Ray Inspection Technology, x-ray case study